Island Cruises, Island Escape Review

We have just returned from our first cruise and after reading some negative reviews were not sure what to expect. In fact I really do not know what the people who had a "bad" experience wanted from this holiday as we had no cause for complaint and thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. The food was excellent, with a wide choice at every meal and unless you wanted junk food, it was of a standard to be found in any decent restaurant. I did not particularly like the Beachcomber restaurant with the melamine cups and plates, but as there was an outside eating area there I did understand the reason for the melamine, as you would use at home for al fresco dining really. The cabins were small but this is a ship remember, not a hotel, and if you have ever been on a caravan holiday then the cabins are on a par. As for cleanliness, the ship was spotless and the staff worked around the clock to ensure this. Yes, some areas were in need of refurbishment but there is a big difference between unclean and worn. Bearing in mind the number of passengers who pass through this ship on a daily, year round, basis, it is no wonder some areas are suffering from wear and tear. The bedlinen was clean but some of the towels were grey and really should have been replaced, they were clean but a bit of bleach would not have gone amiss to bring them back to a better shade of white. The entertainment was good and there was something to suit everyone, evening and daytime. I did not particularly enjoy having to search for somewhere to sit down when people were sitting on a chair with their feet on another, or leaving their towels on the sunbeds while they went off elsewhere. I thought this kind of behaviour was what the Germans did, not the Brits. But of course the clientele of the cruise was mixed, some people were more refined than others and as such so was their behaviour. We met some really nice people and those who we did not wish to mix with we could avoid. At mealtimes we were allocated different tables every time which prevented being stuck with people we did not want to be with. The food was buffet style in the restaurants on decks 6 and 10, with staff dishing out the food. Some people complained about this but we preferred it rather than having people taking things and then replacing them if they changed their minds. There were lots of hand sanitisers in use, as a preventative against the spread of norovirus apparently. People should not be worried about this as the norovirus is simply the winter vomiting bug, which is prevalent in any crowded space, workplaces, schools etc not just cruise ships, so it was just scaremongering to suggest the ship was infected. We opted for full board, not all inclusive and did not take the drinks package as we thought this was expensive for what we would have drunk. The price of drinks was reasonable and the food was certainly plentiful. Without exception, every one of the staff on board was polite and helpful. There was some rocking and creaking of the ship at times when the sea was rather rough, but we were on the ocean so this was not totally unexpected. We went on several excursions but if we cruised again would probably take a taxi from the port instead of this as there were plenty available and at competitive prices. If you have booked, or are thinking of booking, to go on the Island Escape then please do not be put off with some of the comments on the other reviews here.